PORTLAND, Ore. — UPDATE: A man suspected of killing two people and abducting a 1-year-old child in eastern Washington, sparking a multi-state manhunt, was found Tuesday afternoon following a police chase near Eugene. Authorities said the suspect had a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and described his current condition as unknown. The 1-year-old was rescued by police and is safe. Click or tap here to read the latest story
ORIGINAL STORY:
Officers are searching for a man accused of murdering two people and kidnapping a 1-year-old in eastern Washington. West Richland police received a tip that he was possibly sighted on Hayden Island in North Portland.
A clerk at a Plaid Pantry on Hayden Island told police that he may have seen the suspect, 39-year-old Elias Huizar, at the store just before 1 a.m. Tuesday. The West Richland Police Department (WRPD) said Portland police alerted them about the potential sighting, and that Huizar was possibly driving a black sedan. The clerk said Huizar bought a drink at the store around 12:42 a.m. and also reported seeing a child in the backseat of his vehicle, according to Portland police.
Police searched the area but did not find Huizar, the 1-year-old, or the vehicle.
The West Richland Police Department held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to provide an update on the manhunt.
Around 8:45 a.m., deputies with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of Exit 30 off Interstate 84, near Benson State Park. A person reported seeing a vehicle that possibly matched information in the Amber Alert out of Washington. Law enforcement responded to the area but did not find the vehicle.
WRPD initially said they were looking for a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla with Washington license plates CBZ4745.
Huizar is suspected of shooting and killing his ex-wife, 31-year-old Amber Marie Rodriguez, on Monday outside an elementary school in West Richland, about three-and-a-half hours outside Portland in the Tri-Cities area. The shooting happened just before 3:30 p.m. outside William Wiley Elementary, according to WRPD.
According to a probable cause document, Rodriguez, an employee at the school, was shot several times in her head and torso, and Huizar continued firing once she fell facedown on the ground. Huizar's 9-year-old son said he saw his father shoot his mother. Richland Superintendent Shelley Redinger said Huizar waited behind an area at the school where he knew Rodriguez would be and then shot her. After the shooting, Huizar ran to his car and fled the scene. The car is registered to Huizar's brother, Ricardo Huizar, court documents say.
Police served a search warrant at Huizar's home and found the body of a second victim, WRPD said. The woman was not initially publicly identified.
Huizar is believed to have kidnapped the 1-year-old, Roman Huizar, and could be heading to Mexico. An Amber Alert was issued on Monday night and has been extended to include Oregon, as well as throughout different locations on the West Coast.
Huizar is charged with first-degree premeditated murder of Rodriguez, including an aggravated circumstance of domestic violence and a firearm enhancement; other charges will likely be added, said Benton County prosecuting attorney Eric Eisinger on Tuesday.
"There are no words to express how deeply saddened we are by the targeted domestic-violence incidents that took place," Redinger said. "This is a tragedy nobody in our community should have to experience."
Huizar was due in court on Monday for allegedly raping a teenage girl in February. According to court documents, police learned that Huizar's 17-year-old girlfriend reportedly caught him sexually assaulting her 16-year-old friend at their home on Feb. 3. Huizar was out on conditions of release on two pending felony matters for third-degree rape of a child and second-degree rape, Eisinger confirmed Tuesday.
He is described as 5-foot-6 with brown hair. He was wearing a black hat, a black long-sleeve shirt with light blue jeans and black shoes.
Huizar is a former Yakima cop and former substitute teacher for Richland School District. According to KING, Huizar left the Yakima Police Department after receiving discipline in late 2021. Redinger said Huizar applied for employment with the school district in 2021, and was rated "good to excellent" after completing the district's application process; his background checks with the Washington State Patrol and FBI came back clear in 2022. He last worked for the district on June 14, 2023.
Police warn that Huizar is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
Resources for domestic violence survivors
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788
- Love is Respect Hotline (for youth): 866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522
- Call to Safety (local 24/7 crisis line): 503-235-5333
- UNICA (local 24/7 Spanish language crisis line): 503-232-4448
- The Gateway Center (range of domestic violence services in Multnomah County): 503-988-6400